Swivel connection for vacuum cleaner nozzles



March 16, 1937. E. c. BANK 2,074,042

SWIVEL CONNECTION FOR VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLES Filed Feb. 9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W INVENTORQ,

ATTORN s.

-March 15mm EQBANK 2,074,042

SWIVEL CONNECTION FOR VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLES Filed Feb. 9. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 INVENTOR. 5m 6m 5M Patented 16, 1937 SWIVEL CONNECTION ron vacuum 1 r enema NOZZLES Edward Carl Bank, Berkeley, cam.

Application February 9, 1935, Serial No. 5,713

3 Claims.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaner nozales and particularly to a device for mounting a vacuum cleaner nozzle for universal movement with respect to the vacuum tube to which it is attached.

It is common practice in vacuum cleaners to employ a nozzle that is rigidly attachedto the vacuum tube and extends transversely thereof.

While this construction is suitable for cleaning ordinary floor space, it presents many disadvantages in connection with cleaning beneath furniture and in small or narrow spaces such as frequently exist between a heavy piece of furniture and the wall. When it is desired to 1; clean walls, moldings, drapes and bric-a-brac of one kind or another, it is often found that the rigidly connected nozzle is inconvenient to manipulate to the best advantage.

It is the object of the present invention to 20 provide means 'for connecting a nozzle to 'a vacuum tube that will permitrelative movement between the nozzle and the tube to an extent that will facilitate adapting the nozzle to as many household uses as possible and to provide a connection of simple and inexpensive form that will increase the efficiency of and expedite the cleaning operation.

One form of my invention is exemplified in the" accompanying drawings and described in made apparent. a

,of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a central vertical section through a brush t'ype nozzle connected to a vacuum tube by means similar to those illustrated in Fig. 1, and also provided with means for permitting rotation of the brush in a horizontal plane;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the device shown inFig.5; and

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line VII-VII ofFig.5. e

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a vacuum cleaner nozzle is generally indicated at III in Figs. 1 and 4. The nozzle I0 is connected to avacuum tube II which extends upwardly at an angle therefrom to serve as a handle by means "of which the nozzle I0 is moved over the surface to be cleaned. Ordinarily the angle between the' nozzle and the tube II is fixed so I that there is some difliculty in maintaining the mouth'of the nozzle fiat against the floor; this position being required toobtain the maximum amount of suction on thesurface directly beneath the nozzle. With this angle fixed, it is diflicult, and particularly so for persons of greater or less than average height, to maintainthe nozzle at the proper angle and, furthermore, when it is desired to clean beneath a chair, bed or other article of furniture, it being necessary to-lower the tube II, the open end of the nozzle is placed at an angle to the floor and it is impossible to obtain maximum efliciency.

My invention provides for free movement of the handle or tube II in a vertical plane with respect to the nozzle lll so that regardless of the angle between these members, the nozzle will always operate with the highest degree of efliciency.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, thisis accomplished by means of an upwardly extending elbow l2 connected to the nozzle and a downwardly extending elbow l3 connected to the tube II. The elbows l2 and I3 are of the same radius and the former telescopes within the latter. The centers of the radii of the elbows I2 and I3 are concentric so that the elbows may be connected for pivotal telescoping movement by a pin through spaced ears ii on the elbow l3 and an ear IS on the nozzle III. U

With this construction, it is possible for the tube II to be moved .from an uppermost position, such as illustrated in Fig. 1, to a lower position, such as illustrated by dotted lines in the same figure, at which position it is substantially horizontal to the floor with the nozzle Ill meanwhile remaining in a position relative to the floor that will permit a maximum cleaning efficiency.

I have also provided means for frictionally resisting this swinging movementof the handle with relation to the nozzle as well as means for locking the parts inany desired position of adjustment, and means for limiting the angle of adjustment to any desired arc. 1

The means above referred to are as follows: A flat bar ll, curved on an'arc struck from the same center as the radii of the elbows l2 and I3, is secured by a screw 18 to the nozzle ID. This bar overlies the elbows and is received between guides l9 formed on the forward face of the elbow l3- for sliding movement relative to the elbow. A plate 20 bridges the guides l9 and overlies the bar 11 as best illustrated in Fig. 2.

- A thumbscrew .2l threadedly mounted in the plate 20 may be tightened. to provide any de- M extending sired degree of frictional resistance to the telev scoping movement of the elbows l2 and I3} it being understood that the thumbscrew is fixed is fixed at its lower end relative to the inner elbow l2. A thin hardened steel plate 22 may be provided beneath the bar l1 and a hardened steel shoe 23 may be arranged at the inner end of the thumbscrew 2| to promote smooth action as the parts slide relative to each other and to prevent undue wear of the-other parts which are customarily formed of brass, aluminum or other similar relatively soft metal.

The object of the set screw 2| is first to provide suificient friction to overcome the tendency of the nozzle to swing freely with relation to the tubular handle H and to maintain it in any position of adjustment under ordinary working conditions. The set screw may also be manipulated by further tightening movement to rigidly clamp the parts in any desired position of adjustment.

Under certain conditions it may be desirable that the swinging movement between the nozzle and handle be limited and for this purpose I have provided a member, preferably in the form of a wire 24, connected at one end by a screw 25 to the elbow I3 and at the other end to the plate 20, which is also fixed relative to the elbow l3. This wire is curved parallel to the outer surface of the elbow and extends through a hole 26 in an upturned end 21 on the bar IT. A stop 28 is slidable on the wire 24 but adapted to be locked in any desired fixed position thereon by means of a thumbscrew 29. Thus, when the tubular handle I I is swung downwardly, the stop 28 will abut against the upturned end 2'! of the bar I! and definitely limit the downward swinging movement of the handle.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, I show the device described above connected with a nozzle 30 of the brush type which comprises a hollow body member 3] having an opening formed centrally therethrough and having a marginal row of bristles 33. In these figures of the drawings, the connection described above is supplemented by a connection which provides for rotational movement of the nozzle independently of raising and lowering movement of the handle. This rotational movement is made possible by a circular plate 34 secured to the top surface of the brush nozzle in a position surrounding the central opening thereof, and provided with upwardly extending peripheral flanges as shown at 35 in Figs. 6 and '7. The flanges 35 are shown as discontinued at the forward and rearward edges of the brush so as not to overlie the same to present sharp edges that would mar furniture or other objects against which the brush may strike.

The lower end of the inner elbow l2is also provided with a marginal flange 36 which is received between the flanges 35 and thereby guided for pivotal or rotational movement relative to the brush. Clips 31, as best illustrated in Fig. 7, are secured by screws 38 to the flanges 35 and overlie the flange 36 to maintain it in position between the flanges 35. One or more of the clips 3'! may be formed of resilient material to bear downwardly upon the flange 36 and thereby afford sufilcient frictional resistance thereon to prevent of too free swinging movement of the brush. This frictional resistance may, if desired, be provided by an annular spring washer 39, as illustrated in Fig. 6, interposed between the clips 31 and the flange 36.

I to resist the swivel action.

relative to the outer elbow l3 while the bar II I This swivel connection between the nozzle and the handle permits the nozzle to be rotated with respect to the handle to facilitate access to narrow recesses that must be cleaned and to expedite the cleaning of objects of various shapes and in various positions that may be more easily reached with the brush or nozzle positioned in this man her.

With the combination of the means disclosed for providing swinging movement of the ha'ndle relative to the nozzle and rotational movement of the nozzle relative to-the handle, it is possible to place the nozzle in any desired position, and with the particular construction of the joints shown, there will be a minimum loss of vacuum, and the means described above for frictionally resisting the adjustment of the nozzle and handle safeguard against the nozzle being loose or dangling at the end of the handle so that it will be firmly held in any desired position of adjustment and at the same time sufllciently free to be moved with little effort to any other desired position.

While I have shown a preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes may be resorted to in the construction and arrangement of its several parts without departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a. vacuum cleaning device including a vacuum tube and a nozzle therefor, a connection between said tube and nozzle comprising an elbow fixed to the nozzle, an elbow fixed to the tube and telescoping over the elbow on the nozzle, a pivotal connection between the tube and. nozzle arranged concentrically with the center of curvature of said elbows, an arcuate bar fixed to the nozzle and lying adjacent the elbows, a thumbscrew fixed with relation to the tube and engageable with said bar to frictionally resist movement of said tube andelbow about said pivotal connection, and an adjustable stop member to regulate the extent of such movement.

2. In a vacuum cleaning device comprising a nozzle and a tubular handle therefor, an elbow formed at the end of said handle, a second elbow telescoping withinthe first elbow and pivoted thereto for swinging telescoping movement, an annular flange at the outer end of the second elbow, an annular track carried by the nozzle and receiving said flange to permit the second elbow to swivel relative to the nozzle, and resilient means interposed between the flange and said track to resist the swivel action.

3. In a vacuum cleaning device comprising a nozzle and a tubular handle therefor, an elbow formed at the end of said handle, a second e1- bow telescoping within the first elbow and pivoted thereto for swinging telescoping movement, adjustable means to limit the arc of free swinging movement between the elbows, an annular flange at the outer end of the second elbow, an annular track carried by the nozzle and receiving said flange to permit the second elbow to swivel relative to the nozzle, and resilient means interposed between the flange and said track EDWARD CARL BANK. 

